Device for recording billable time and services

ABSTRACT

A portable timing device stores selectable user, client and activity data. The device has a memory which stores user selected information relating to a user, client and activity along with corresponding start and stop times. The system communicates with a central billing computer over an appropriate two way port which reads and writes to the memory in the device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to data logging. In particular, the inventionrelates to a hand held data logging device which records in real timethe elapsed time associated with work or billable activities performedon behalf of a client by a service provider.

Various data entry systems are available which are designed to simplifythe process of collecting time keeper or service provider dataassociated with various activities. For example, computer systems havebeen employed to track workers, worker activities and the time spent inhandling individual tasks associated with ongoing contracts and thelike. These devices often are complicated and require the worker toenter codes or to connect an identification device to a machine duringthe time of operation. Some devices are designed specifically to providetime and billing information for doctors, lawyers and other professionalservice providers. However, the systems are difficult to implement anddo not carry sufficient information in memory so that user, client andactivity information can be readily recorded. Further, such systems donot have the ability to receive updated information or to communicaterelevant information to a centrally located time and billing computer.

There is thus a need for a portable data logging device which can recordin real time relevant information as to the user, the client, activityand storing elapsed time in a form useful for producing time and billinginformation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is based upon the discovery that a data loggingdevice for recording in real time the elapsed time spent on a particularactivity by a particular service provider for a particular client, maybe contained in a portable self-contained unit. The device has aselectable data memory and a memory for storing selected client, userand activity data along with start and stop times time for suchactivity. The invention allows the user to toggle start and stop timesfor particular activities, and to store the information in a nonvolatilememory. Updates and corrections to the selectable data are provided by atwo way communication port to a separate billing computer. The datalogging function is separate from the computing function. Communicationwith other devices is unnecessary, except when it is desired to read outthe recorded data or to update the selectable data.

In one embodiment, the invention is a portable timing device that isdesigned to interface with the computer for two way communication. Thecomputer lists names, task descriptions, and any other text or numericalentries as may be desired. The device transmits user recorded data tothe computer for producing bills and charges. The recorded data includesthe user, the client, and start and stop times, for various activitiesperformed by the service provider.

In a particular embodiment, the invention is directed to a data loggerfor recording, in real time, the time expended performing a particulartask or activity by a particular user for a client. The inventioncomprises a central processing unit for processing data, first memoryfor storing selectable client, user and activity data, a second memoryfor storing selected client, user and activity data along with start andstop times for computing a corresponding time interval. A data selectoris provided for selecting from the first memory data corresponding to aparticular client, user and activity. A timer selector provides startand stop times for the selected data into the second memory. Two-waycommunication means is provided for entering the selectable data intothe first memory and for reading out data from the second memory.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a hand held data logging deviceaccording to the invention with the billing computer shown;

FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating the sequence of operations forestablishing each new data entry.

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of a hand held data logging deviceaccording to the present invention with the billing computer connectedto the device; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged block diagram illustrating the selectable memoryand timer start/stop elements of the system illustrated in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is generally illustrated in FIG. 1 and comprises ahand held data logging device 10 which is more or less the size of atypical hand held calculator. The data logging device 10 includes ahousing 12, a control system 14 located in the housing, which isdescribed hereinafter, a plurality of switches 16 individually labeledS, T, U and D, corresponding to select, time, up and down functionsrespectively, hereinafter referred to by function, and a display such asa liquid crystal display 18. An on/off switch 22 which may include anindicator 22 is also provided. The control system has a battery 24, alow battery indicator 26 and a battery charging port 28. There is alsoprovided a data port 30 which may be connected to a standard RS232 cable31 for communication with a billing computer 33. The control system 14includes a real time clock, a memory for storing selectable informationwhich may be programmed into the device 10 by an input from the billingcomputer 31 or from another appropriate source of data. The device 10stores information relating to, for example, the user or serviceprovider, client or patient and the activity or service provided.

In operation, the user calls up onto the display 18 the useridentification by depressing the select switch S. The activation of theselect switch S causes the control system 14 to access a list of users,activities or clients. The selected list may be scrolled by pressing theU--Up or D--Down switch in the upper line 32 of the display 18.Alternatively, code numbers for users may be used if desired. The usermay scan the list of names accessed by simply depressing the up button Uor the down button D. Once the particular user is identified, theactivity may be selected by depressing the select switch S again. Thecontrol system 14 also calls up the second list which may contain clientinformation. The user likewise selects a particular client by scrollingup or down through the list using the U and D switches respectively. Inthe illustration of FIG. 1, XYZ Corporation is displayed on the upperline 32. Thereafter, the user enters and moves to the next list bydepressing the select switch S thereby again entering that client nameand calling up the activity list which likewise may be scrolled for theappropriate activity, for example, a court appearance or the like. Oncethe activity is selected, the user starts the timing function bydepressing the time switch T, which records the selected user, activityand client in the non-volatile memory along with the current timeobtained from the real time clock unit. The elapsed time ET is displayedon the lower line 34. The lower line may also be programmed to display adate current time of day, as illustrated. When the task is complete, theuser depresses the time switch T again, stopping the elapsed time clockand causing the control system to store the data. The next activity maybe timed in the same way with the same or a different client, simply byrepeating the steps as desired.

It should be understood that the user data may be prestored in thedevice. For convenience, the prior data is called up each time theselect button is depressed so that all the user need do is reactivatethe switch to move to the next display. At some later time, device 10may be coupled to the billing computer 33 by means of the RS232 cable31, which reads the stored and selected data via port 30. The clientlist, the time of day, the activities and the user information may alsobe changed by means of the billing computer 33. It should also beunderstood that slots are available in each list for miscellaneousitems. For example, when a new client consults the service provider,that information can be stored under a series of available unassignedclient numbers which later can be formally assigned and entered into anupdated list.

The sequence of steps to move through the operation described above isillustrated in the flow chart in FIG. 2. The system powers up at block40 and either automatically or upon prompting from the switch actuationS displays the first list, for example, the user list, at block 42.Respective increment and decrement blocks 44 and 46 allow the user toscroll the list using the U and D switches. Again, upon actuation of theswitch S, the second list is displayed at 48 and which likewise may beincremented up or down by means of the U and D switches at blocks 50 and52. Likewise, when the user activity is selected block 54 this may beincremented and decremented up or down by means of respective blocks 56and 68. It should be understood that the activity selected or scannedfrom any list does not affect the other list. The user may return to anyprevious box by sequentially actuating the select switch S.

When it is desired to start the timing operation, the user actuates thetimer switch T causing the timer to start at 60. If the user desires toreview the client activity or the user designation while the timer isoperating, sequential operation of the select switch S at block 62 willdisplay the current information on the upper line 32. However, thatinformation may not be changed until the timing stops. This isaccomplished at block 64 by actuating the timing switch T which causesthe system to stop timing and save the data.

A schematic block diagram of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 3, theswitch is 16 and the liquid crystal display 18 are illustrated and thebilling computer 31 is also shown. The remaining portions of the diagramrepresents the control system 14.

The control system 14 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 70 whichmay be part of a microprocessor chip. The CPU 70 has a system clockinput 72 which provides a high frequency reference clock signal. A realtime clock 74 is also provided. The clock 74 provides the CPU 70 withinformation as to the actual running time of the device. As indicated bythe connecting arrow, the real time clock may be programmed, as desired.

The CPU 70 is powered by the battery 24 or any other suitable powersupply. The battery 24 is coupled to the CPU 70 via on/off switch 20.The power on light 22 in circuit with the switch 20 and battery 24indicates when the switch 20 is closed. The light 22 may be a lightemitting diode (LED) as illustrated. When the battery becomes low, a lowbattery sensor 76 is activated which illuminates indicator 26, whichalso may be an LED.

The control system 14 includes a selectable memory 78 which storesgeneral information pertaining to user, the clients and the activities.The control system 14 also includes a storage memory 80, which storesinformation which has been selected during a particular interval for aparticular client, activity and user. The selectable memory 78 and thestorage memory 80 are both read write devices. Accordingly, when coupledto the billing computer 31 via the port 30, the memories 78 and 80 maybe written to, updated or erased. The billing computer 31 and the CPU 30are coupled by the RS232 cable 33 via the port 30 as noted above. TheRS232 port 30 has a transmit line TX and a receive line RX coupled tothe CPU 70. Information can thus be communicated to and from the CPU andthe associated memory cells in a known manner.

The selectable memory 78 and the storage memory 80 are coupled to theCPU 70 by means of a chip select device 84 which allows the CPU 70 tochoose between the selectable memory 78 and storage memory 78 and 80.The chip select 84 also allows subdivisions of the various memories tobe accessed. For example, if additional memory cells are necessary forstoring additional information, additional memory chips may be employed.

In operation, the user actuates the switches 16 to achieve the select(S) function, the time (T) function, to scroll up (U) function and thescroll down (D) function, as detailed above. Also, as illustrated, oneor more other functions (O) may be provided as desired.

A liquid crystal display brightener control 86 coupled to LCD 18 allowsthe user to select an appropriate or convenient visual intensity of theLCD.

FIG. 4 illustrates in greater detail the selectable memory 78 for theuser list, the client list and activities list which are labeled 78A,78B and 78C respectively. Each is connected to the select switch S andthe up and down scrolling switches U and D. The real time clock 74provides real time information to the storage memory and the display viathe CPU, as noted.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 4, the user list 78 has been selectedfor Mr. R, the client list has been selected Jones, R. and the activityis a Trial. While the real timer clock 74 is in operation, thoseselections are locked. However, when the real time clock 74 is released,those selections may then be changed.

While there have been described what are at present considered to be thepreferred embodiments of the present invention, it will be apparent tothose skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may bemade therein without departing from the invention, and it is intended inthe appended claims to cover such changes and modifications as fallwithin the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A data logging system for recording time expendedby a user engaged in an activity on behalf of a client, comprising:acentral processing unit (CPU) including a timer for producing timeinterval data derived from selectable start and stop times; first memorymeans coupled to the CPU for storing selectable data entries in each ofa plurality of selectable lists; second memory means coupled to the CPUfor storing selected portions of the selectable data from each of saidlists along with corresponding time interval data therefor; firstsequentially actuable data selector means coupled to the CPU operativesuccessively for selecting upon sequential actuations thereof datastored in the first memory means corresponding to a particular list forentry into the second memory means; second sequentially actuable dataselector means coupled to the CPU operative successively for selectingupon sequential actuations thereof data stored in the first memory meanscorresponding to a particular entry in each respective list;sequentially actuable time selector means coupled to the CPU operativesuccessively for entering upon single sequential actuations thereof arespective start time and stop time from the timer for the selected dataand for entering upon at least one of said single actuations theselected data into the second memory means; and two-way communicationsmeans coupled to the CPU operative for entering the selectable data intothe first memory means and for reading out the selected portions of theselectable data stored in the second memory means.
 2. The data logger ofclaim 1 wherein the first data selector means comprises a sequentiallyactuable switch.
 3. The data logger of claim 1 wherein the timerselector means comprises a sequentially actuable switch.
 4. The datalogger of claim 1 wherein the first memory means comprises a read writememory for storing the plurality of lists and the data selector means isoperatively coupled to the first memory means for scrolling the lists.5. The data logger of claim 1 wherein the second memory means comprisesa read/write memory.
 6. The data logger of claim 1 further including areal time clock coupled to the CPU and wherein the timer selector meansare responsive to the real time clock for establishing a start and stoptime corresponding to the timer interval data.
 7. The data logger ofclaim 1 wherein the two-way communications means includes acommunications port for coupling the data logger to a remote processingmeans.
 8. The data logger of claim 7 wherein the communications portcomprises an RS232 port.
 9. The data logger of claim 7 wherein theremote processing means comprises a billing computer for reading andwriting data into the data logger and for calculating billable time inaccordance with the selected data and the timer interval data from thesecond memory means.
 10. The data logger of claim 9 wherein the selecteddata corresponds to a client, a user and an activity.
 11. The datalogger of claim 1 further including data entry blocking means responsiveto the timer selector means for blocking entry of any data from thefirst memory means into the second memory means between start and stoptimes.
 12. The data logger of claim 1 wherein the second data selectormeans is operative for selecting a client, a user and an activity fromthe each corresponding list.
 13. The data logger of claim 1 wherein thesecond sequentially actuable data selector means comprises a pair ofswitches, a first switch for selecting data from a list in a firstdirection and a second switch for selecting data from a list in anopposite direction.
 14. The data logger of claim 1 further comprisingdisplay means for displaying the selected data.
 15. The data logger ofclaim 1 further comprising chip select means coupled between the CPU andthe first and second memory means for selecting between said memorymeans.
 16. A data logging system for recording time expended by a userengaged in an activity on behalf of a client, comprising:a centralprocessing unit (CPU) including a timer for producing time interval dataderived from selectable start and stop times; first memory means coupledto the CPU for storing selectable data entries in each of a plurality ofselectable lists; second memory means coupled to the CPU for storingselected portions of the selectable data from each of said lists alongwith corresponding time interval data therefor; first sequentiallyactuable data selector means coupled to the CPU operative successivelyfor selecting upon sequential actuations thereof data stored in thefirst memory means corresponding to a particular list for entry into thesecond memory means; second sequentially actuable data selector meanscoupled to the CPU operative successively for selecting upon sequentialactuations thereof data stored in the first memory means correspondingto a particular entry in each respective list; sequentially actuabletime selector means coupled to the CPU operative successively forentering upon single sequential actuations thereof a respective starttime and stop time from the timer for the selected data and for enteringupon at least one of said single actuations the selected data into thesecond memory means; and data entry blocking means responsive to thetimer selector means for blocking entry of any data from the firstmemory means into the second memory means between start and stop times.17. The data logger of claim 16 further comprising two-way communicationmeans coupled to the CPU operative for entering the selectable data intothe first memory means and for reading the selected portions of theselectable data stored in the second memory means.
 18. The data loggerof claim 17 further comprising billing computer means coupled to thetwo-way communication means for producing the selectable data entry intothe first memory means and for receiving the selected portions of theselectable data stored in the second memory means.